IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!

IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!

Thursday's Bharat bandh called by the National Democratic Alliance, Left parties and Samajwadi Party to protest against the steep hike in petrol prices evoked a mixed response from across the country. Where the Opposition was strong, the Bandh was successful; where it was not, the Bandh met with a tepid response.

While life was paralysed in Karnataka, Goa and Punjab, it evoked a good response in Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

On the other hand, the bandh call received a lukewarm response in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Haryana.

Here are photographs of how Bharat observed the Bandh, from across the country.

The country's financial capital Mumbai took a day off on Thursday, with the Shiv Sena calling for a total bandh. Shops remained closed for the best part of the day, there were a few incidents of stone-throwing, and many didn't need greater persuasion to stay at home.

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Image: With Mumbai shutting down with glee, children took to the empty streets to indulge in their favourite sport: gully cricketPhotographs: Abhishek Mande/Rediff.com